Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the DECR and of the Organizing Committee, chaired the session, taking part in which were seventeen members, including Metropolitan Arseny of Istra, the Patriarch’s first vicar for Moscow; Metropolitan Antony of Borispol and Brovary, chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha; and Bishop Serafim of Bobruisk and Bykhov.
Metropolitan Hilarion noted in his introductory address that almost all members of the Committee had presented their proposals on the celebration in compliance with the assignment entrusted to them at the Committee’s first session.
His Eminence briefed those present on the celebration plans being elaborated by the Church and the state and on the contacts maintained by the officials for coordination of plans.
For instance, on 8 July 2014, there took place a meeting of the Presidential working group for the events commemorating St. Vladimir, the Baptizer of Rus’. The DECR chairman spoke at the meeting and told the participants about the activities of the Organizing Committee. Summary plan of the celebration and media plan presented by the Synodal Information Department were handed over to the working group to be used in its work.
Metropolitan Hilarion reported also that the Byelorussian Exarchate had set up the Organizing Committee for the celebration, while the Council of Ministers of Belarus had set up the Republican Organizing Committee for the jubilee events.
Concrete issues of preparation were discussed. The participants reported on the execution of decisions taken at the first meeting of the Organizing Committee.
The program of events will be agreed upon in the near future and presented to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia for consideration.
